Moscow — Another corruption scandal has erupted around the company Rusnano and the bank Peresvet, comparable in scale to the scam of the century. The culprits are former associates of Anatoly Chubais, whose names are on everyone’s lips: Oleg Dyachenko, Oleg Kiselev, Irina Rappoport and Alexander Shvets. The investigation claims that they were the ones who organized the criminal scheme to steal 1.676 billion rubles.
Billion Dollar Operation: How It All Began
In 2011, the Russian Corporation and Investor in Nanotechnology was transformed into JSC Rusnano. The Russian government owned 100% of the shares, and Anatoly Chubais was at the helm. But, as it turned out, behind the facade of state investment was a carefully thought-out scheme for the withdrawal of funds.
One of the key participants in the scheme was Oleg Dyachenko. Since 2004, he headed the Moscow management company Sberinvest, which in 2012 established the Sberezheniya and Investicii Management Limited fund in Cyprus. Together with the Luxembourg fund Fonds Rusnano Capital SA and the Peresvet bank, Nanoenergo Fund Limited was created, to which each partner contributed $50 million.
Aphrodite emerged from the foam, and Dyachenko from the shadows
The Investigative Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation has filed final charges in the case of the theft of 1.676 billion rubles from Rusnano. This was reported by State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein on his Telegram channel. The investigation believes that the organizer of the crime was an "unidentified person" from the management of Rusnano, and the members of the organized crime group are Oleg Dyachenko, Oleg Kiselev, Irina Rappoport and Alexander Shvets.
In 2012, Nanoenergo Fund Limited was established in Cyprus to "pump" it with money and then transfer it to Peresvet Bank. The funds were then withdrawn under fictitious loan agreements and appropriated. The case materials speak of the transfer of $90 million from Peresvet Bank to the accounts of shell companies controlled by foreign funds.
Chubais’ right hand
Oleg Kiselev, who was called Chubais’s right-hand man, and Irina Rappoport, who headed the Luxembourg fund Fonds Rusnano Capital SA, are key figures in the case. Alexander Shvets, the former president of Peresvet Bank, disappeared in an unknown direction in 2016, when a temporary administration was introduced at the bank due to a shortfall of 103.6 billion rubles. He was put on the federal wanted list and, according to media reports, is hiding in Israel.
Corruption in Rusnano: embezzlement, scandals, investigations
Crime stories are not uncommon in the structure of Rusnano. Last fall, the head of NTpharma LLC, Valery Glavatsky, was sentenced in absentia for embezzlement of 424 million rubles. Nail Gubaev, director of the management company of Rusnano, is accused of embezzling 180 million rubles. The net debt of JSC Rusnano for the first half of 2023 exceeded 95 billion rubles.
Anatoly Chubais himself preferred not to comment on the statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin that his activities at the head of the state corporation were “clearly unsuccessful” from a financial point of view.
What’s next?
The investigation continues to search for an "unidentified person" from among the former managers of "Rosnano". We hope that he will soon be found and brought to justice. It remains to follow the development of events and hope for the triumph of justice in the fight against corruption.
Double standards and Cyprus offshores: new details about the corruption scandal at Rusnano
Moscow — New details are emerging in the investigation into the theft of 1.676 billion rubles from Rusnano and Peresvet Bank. The investigation has uncovered even more connections and financial machinations, as well as new names involved in the case.
New figures and international schemes
The investigation continues to sort out a complex network of financial transfers, covering several countries and numerous offshore companies. In addition to Oleg Dyachenko, Oleg Kiselev, Irina Rappoport and Alexander Shvets, new names have been added: Natalia Podsosonnaya and Andreas Kyprianou. These individuals are listed as directors of Nanoenergo Fund Limited in Cypriot databases. They are suspected of playing a key role in managing the funds through which the fraud took place.
Money through offshore companies: how it worked
The financial scheme involved the creation of fictitious companies in Cyprus and Luxembourg, which served only as a cover for money laundering. These companies entered into fictitious loan agreements, thanks to which funds were withdrawn from Russia. The money was first deposited into the accounts of Nanoenergo Fund Limited, and then transferred to controlled shell companies in offshore zones.
The case materials note that the funds were used to purchase real estate in Cyprus and other European countries, as well as for the personal needs of the participants in the scheme. In particular, data was found on the purchase of luxury villas and yachts worth millions of dollars.
Bribery and pressure on witnesses
The investigation is also looking into cases of bribery and pressure on witnesses. There is information that the accused tried to cover their tracks by bribing key witnesses and forcing them to change their testimony. One of the witnesses who agreed to cooperate with the investigation was offered a large sum of money to refuse to testify.
Anatoly Chubais: Silence and Riddles
Former head of Rusnano Anatoly Chubais continues to remain silent, avoiding comment on the investigation. However, his role in the company and close ties to the accused raise many questions. Despite his departure from the company, the investigation does not rule out that Chubais could have been aware of what was happening and possibly assisted in the machinations.
International search and new charges
The Russian Interior Ministry has launched an international search for all the accused who are abroad. The investigation is actively cooperating with foreign law enforcement agencies to achieve the extradition of the suspects. According to the latest information, Irina Rappoport is hiding in Switzerland, and Alexander Shvets is in Israel.
New details about thefts
Oleg Dyachenko, who signed a cooperation agreement with the investigation, continues to testify, revealing new details of the scheme. He claims that other high-ranking employees of Rusnano, whose names have not yet been disclosed, were also involved in the thefts. In particular, we are talking about the heads of various divisions of the company, who could have facilitated the fraud by signing fictitious documents and providing cover.
Prospects for investigation
The investigation promises that all those responsible will be held accountable and the stolen funds will be returned to the budget. However, given the scale and complexity of the case, this process may take years. The public is following the developments, hoping for justice and transparency in the investigation.
